Stress: The Uninvited Holiday House Guest
By Dr. Nancy D. O’Reilly, Psy.D.
Smart, amazing women are versatile and flexible even when all around them are losing their cool. They adapt to their circumstances and do not let others bring them down. These amazing women start early making a plan for enjoying these special times.
Yes, the holidays are upon us! Are you rushing about, trying to put it all together? Fully half of you might say you are stressed to the max and already can’t wait for the holidays to be over.
Commercials and cards say that this is the season to be jolly. Many of us remember the thrill of being children at Christmas time and all of the joy and excitement of waiting for Santa to arrive. We visualize past Christmases as if they were Norman Rockwell paintings: families gathered in front of the warm, inviting fire, the aroma of baking cookies, brightly colored packages, hanging stockings and singing Christmas carols, drinking hot chocolate and feeling loved and safe and protected.
In reality, few of us have experienced this kind of holiday in the past, so why should we expect that today? The holidays are hectic. Add seasonal events to an already busy schedule, whip together the needs of family, fold in some guests, and you have cooked up a great recipe for becoming the victim of stress.
What are the symptoms of stress? Simply put, it is when we are off balance. Doctors and psychologists call it ”disequilibrium.” When all our biological systems are in balance and we are functioning well, eating healthy foods, and sleeping a good eight hours a night, we experience little stress. We know instinctively when we are well. Stress builds up over time, not overnight. Our bodies try to let us know stress is there, and we need to pay attention.
Watch out for these signs of stress:
- Sleeping poorly, getting too few hours of good quality sleep; not feeling refreshed on waking
- Bingeing on carbohydrates (chips, breads, sweets and other empty calories)
- Feeling rushed, nervous and irritable
- Getting easily upset by little things
- Feeling little or no support from loved ones and associates
Too much stress over time results in health problems. Men, women and even children can and do develop stress-related disorders that carry symptoms including stomach and other digestive distress, headaches, anxiety, and depression.
Stress is not a joking matter. Take time today to check your stress level. When you feel it building up, take some simple measures to fend off stress:
- Take time for yourself.
- Continue to exercise regularly in your favorite way.
- Maintain a healthy support system.
- Learn to say NO to some requests.
- Realize when your needs are not being met.
- Learn to ask for help and accept it when it is offered.
- Remember, most of all, to be kind and gentle with yourself.
Talk with the people around you about how you want this holiday season to feel, and express any concerns you have. Let family and friends share in the joy of the holidays by helping with the planning and preparation, too. It is also a good idea to talk with one of those amazing women about how they flow and enjoy their holidays.
There is nothing better than a good woman to share her trade secrets with you. Don’t let stress be an uninvited guest at your house this year